Project to rebuild the ‘Partizan’ sports centre in Foča

22.5.2018

Question for written answer E-002727-18
to the Commission
Rule 130
Ramón Luis Valcárcel Siso (PPE)

In at least 1992 and 1993, as the International Criminal Court for the former Yugoslavia has established, a campaign of ethnic cleansing was carried out in the town of Foča. It has been proven that the criminals responsible for this atrocity targeted women and girls for systematic rape, in specifically prepared detention centres such as the ‘Partizan’ sports centre.

The ‘Partizan’ centre is perhaps the most notorious symbol of the use of rape as a weapon of war in Bosnia. However, a call for a tender for a project rebuild it funded by the EU and run by the UNDP (reference No: 41247) was made in 2017.

A campaign to deny and forget what happened is currently under way in many towns that suffered ethnic cleansing, a key element of which is ‘erasing’ places that were the scene of war crimes.

Is the Commission aware of this project?

Does the Commission not think that places such as the ‘Partizan’ centre should be made into monuments to historical memory rather than being ‘erased’ in the name of denial?

If the Commission supports its reconstruction, can ensure that that the victims will at least be remembered with an information plaque that recognises the crimes committed there?